_Abbot_. It may be there are Things that would shake thee--but I keep them back, And give thee till to-morrow to repent. 10 Then if thou dost not all devote thyself To penance, and with gift of all thy lands To the Monastery---- _Man_. I understand thee,--well! _Abbot_. Expect no mercy; I have warned thee. _Man_. (_opening the casket_). Stop-- There is a gift for thee within this casket. [MANFRED _opens the casket, strikes a light, and burns some incense._ Ho! Ashtaroth! _The_ DEMON ASHTAROTH _appears, singing as follows:--_ The raven sits On the Raven-stone,[*] And his black wing flits O'er the milk--white bone; 20 To and fro, as the night--winds blow, The carcass of the assassin swings; And there alone, on the Raven-stone, The raven flaps his dusky wings. The fetters creak--and his ebon beak Croaks to the close of the hollow sound; And this is the tune, by the light of the Moon, To which the Witches dance their round-- Merrily--merrily--cheerily--cheerily-- Merrily--merrily--speeds the ball: 30 The dead in their shrouds, and the Demons in clouds, Flock to the Witches' Carnival. _Abbot_. I fear thee not--hence--hence-- Avaunt thee, evil One!--help, ho! without there! _Man_. Convey this man to the Shreckhorn--to its peak-- To its extremest peak--watch with him there From now till sunrise; let him gaze, and know He ne'er again will be so near to Heaven. But harm him not; and, when the morrow breaks, Set him down safe in his cell--away with him! 40 _Ash_. Had I not better bring his brethren too, Convent and all, to bear him company? _Man_. No, this will serve for the present. Take him up. _Ash_. Come, Friar! now an exorcism or two, And we shall fly the lighter. ASHTAROTH _disappears with the_ ABBOT, _singing as follows:_-- A prodigal son, and a maid undone,[§] And a widow re-wedded within the year; And a worldly monk, and a pregnant nun, Are things which every day appear. MANFRED _alone._